Episode 4

The woman's voice forced her to open her eyes.

Estefanía sighed softly before climbing out of the bathtub.

The cold bathroom air hit her damp skin as she grabbed a large towel and began drying her hair slowly.

She glanced at the wedding dress abandoned on the chair.

The white fabric was still wrinkled and torn along one side.

For a moment she remembered how nervous she'd been just hours ago, holding that dress in her hands, believing that getting married would be enough to change her life.

Now she didn't even know what to think.

Her gaze drifted to a white robe hanging near the sink.

She grabbed it without thinking too much.

It was enormous on her.

The sleeves covered part of her hands, and the fabric grazed the floor even after she'd cinched it tight around her waist.

Estefanía let out a small laugh when she caught her reflection in the mirror.

She looked like a little girl wearing borrowed clothes.

She kept drying her hair as she walked toward the door.

The moment she opened it, the woman waiting outside widened her eyes in surprise.

Her gaze swept quickly over Estefanía's wet hair, the oversized robe, and her bare feet.

"Hi," Estefanía greeted casually.

The woman took several seconds to react.

"Um... good evening, Mrs. Castellanos."

Those words still sounded strange to her.

Mrs. Castellanos.

She wasn't even used to hearing the name Rosales.

Much less that one.

Estefanía descended the stairs slowly while the woman continued watching her as if she didn't quite know what to do with her.

When she reached the living room, she found Alexander seated beside another man with an elegant appearance and an easy smile.

The stranger lifted his gaze.

And went completely still when he saw her coming down the stairs wrapped in nothing but that white robe.

Alexander's expression hardened immediately.

His dark eyes scanned the scene in an instant.

The wet hair.

The bare feet.

The robe that was far too big.

And José's shamelessly amused stare.

"That's how you're going to see your parents?"

His voice came out cold. Commanding.

Estefanía stepped off the last stair feeling suddenly uncomfortable.

"I mentioned that I lost my suitcase, Mr. Castellanos... I do not have any clothes."

She said it while fidgeting nervously with her fingers.

Alexander closed his eyes for a second and ran a hand over his face with visibly exhausted patience.

"Dana, order some clothes for--"

"For your wife," José cut in, entertained.

Alexander shot him a withering look.

He knew perfectly well how much he hated that word.

Wife.

It sounded too permanent.

Too real.

Dana nodded quickly before heading toward the upper floor.

"Go upstairs and change."

Estefanía didn't argue.

In fact, she was grateful for an excuse to escape that uncomfortable tension.

She went back upstairs, and once inside the bedroom, she closed the door gently.

The silence wrapped around her again.

She picked up the wedding dress carefully and folded the fabric slowly before tucking it into a corner of the closet.

For some reason, she didn't want to throw it away.

She sat on the enormous bed and studied the ring on her finger.

The band fit slightly tight.

She turned it slowly, sighing.

She still couldn't believe she was actually married.

Married to a man she barely knew.

And who clearly didn't want her anywhere near him.

Her gaze fell to the heels.

Just looking at them made her feet hurt again.

The small blisters were still burning.

"I'm going to die wearing those shoes..." she muttered to herself.

Meanwhile, downstairs in the living room, Alexander was running out of what little patience he had left.

All he wanted was to get this night over with.

Sign the agreements.

Keep up appearances.

And get back to work.

José watched his cousin's irritated expression with amusement.

"They say the richer you are, the cheaper you get," he remarked while pouring a drink. "I thought the Rosales were the kind of family that blew money without thinking. Couldn't they have sent her with more clothes?"

"I don't know, and I don't care."

Alexander answered without giving it any importance.

José let out a laugh.

"Or maybe she didn't bring anything because she didn't even want to get married."

Alexander slowly raised his gaze toward him.

"Her father called me."

José arched a surprised eyebrow.

"What?"

"I'm guessing she threw some kind of tantrum before the wedding and they had to convince her with something."

José rested his arm on the sofa while shaking his head, amused.

"You've got your work cut out for you."

Unlike Alexander, José enjoyed watching other people's disasters.

Maybe because the two of them were completely different.

Alexander was control.

José was chaos.

But at the end of the day, they were still family.

Dana passed in front of them carrying several bags before hurrying up the stairs.

Minutes later, Estefanía studied the new dress in the mirror.

It was white, simple, and elegant.

Fitted at the top and falling softly to her knees.

She liked it immediately.

She combed her hair carefully in front of the mirror before sighing in resignation at the sight of the heels again.

"I hate those shoes."

She put them on anyway.

She took a deep breath and left the bedroom.

When she started down the stairs again, José was already waiting at the bottom.

"Now you look like a millionaire's wife."

Estefanía let out a small, nervous laugh.

José grinned, satisfied.

"I'll let the newlyweds ride alone. See you at your parents' place."

Alexander watched him with obvious annoyance.

José simply waved goodbye with one hand before disappearing.

Alexander grabbed his cane and walked toward the exit.

He opened the car door so Estefanía could get in first.

She obeyed quickly.

When Alexander tried to get in after her, his cane got caught between the door.

Estefanía reacted on instinct.

"Please, let me help you, sir."

Alexander pulled the cane away before she could touch it.

The gesture was immediate.

Cold.

Almost rough.

Estefanía slowly withdrew her hand.

She understood right away.

He didn't want anyone's help.

During the ride she stayed silent, watching through the window.

The city lights still fascinated her.

The enormous buildings.

The packed restaurants.

The couples walking through the streets.

Then she remembered something.

She'd left the phone upstairs.

She nervously adjusted her hands on her lap.

She hoped nobody would check it.

When they finally arrived at Alexander's parents' estate, Estefanía got out quickly on the opposite side of the car so she wouldn't make him uncomfortable while he climbed out.

Alexander stepped out seconds later, straightening his suit slightly.

Estefanía watched him in silence.

Even leaning on a cane, he still looked imposing.

Intimidating.

His mere presence was enough to make anyone uneasy.

And she couldn't help wondering what he must have been like before the accident.

Because she was sure of one thing.

That man wasn't born this way.

Something had broken him.

"Are you coming in, or are you planning to stay outside?"

Alexander's deep voice snapped her back immediately.

She walked fast to catch up with him.

They entered together.

But the moment she crossed the threshold, Estefanía stopped.

Everything was too different from the cold silence she was accustomed to.

She clenched her hands slightly.

The small knot in her stomach returned.

Alexander's parents were already waiting outside.

Alexander's mother smiled faintly when she saw her.

"Your in-laws are already here."

Estefanía's heart raced immediately.

That meant he was here.

Her father.

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